The fact that 'Hikaru no Go' managed to squeeze into the Top 5 of spring season TV ratings was only one surface-level reflection of its growing influence.
In reality, the show's impact went far beyond just viewership numbers.
In the original Japanese release, when 'Hikaru no Go' (the source material) began serialization, the number of Go learners in Japan skyrocketed—from just over 3 million to more than 4 million.
And it wasn't just Japan. The series also sparked a measurable boom in Go enthusiasm across Southeast Asia.
Now, five weeks into 'Hikaru no Go's broadcast in the Great Zhou, the same signs were beginning to appear.
In local parks, crowds gathered around elderly men playing Go were noticeably larger than before.
Well-known Go training centers saw a 70–80% increase in student enrollment—especially in major cities like Modo.
You could even spot kids squatting by the roadside, drawing grids in the dirt and using pebbles to play Go.
Children who owned five-in-a-row (Gomoku) boards were now pretending to play Go on them, unaware of the differences.
Viewership numbers are just one metric of a drama's success—
But when it came to 'Hikaru no Go', the show had clearly affected its audience on a much deeper level than other dramas airing in the same season.
Even at the Yunteng TV station, the security gate had started receiving gifts and letters from fans two weeks ago.
By week five, it had gotten out of hand.
Boxes of Go boards, stones, thank-you notes, fruit baskets, and local specialties flooded in.
Most were marked:
"For Sai."
"To Akira."
Just like in Jing Yu's previous life, the fanbase of 'Hikaru no Go' was split—but the most beloved characters were clearly Akira and Sai.
Especially Sai.
Even though 'Hikaru no Go' was only #5 in spring season ratings,
Sai's popularity ranking had shot up to #2, just narrowly trailing Yuan Yi, the male lead of 'Fireworks'—the current #1 drama.
Whether in ratings, character popularity, viewer reviews, or overall cultural impact,
'Hikaru no Go' had, by the end of its first month, sent a clear message to everyone in the Great Zhou TV and film industry:
This drama… is excellent.
Way more excellent than you ever expected.
You thought it was just good enough that even non-Go players could enjoy it?
No.
It was so good that people who didn't even understand Go were now learning it just to understand the show.
It was only now that Jing Yu, the screenwriter of 'Hikaru no Go', finally began to draw serious attention from the industry.
After all, 'Hikaru no Go' had already toppled all the spring-season dramas from the bottom three of the Big Six.
"A challenge from 'Hikaru no Go'—after so many years, someone finally dares to threaten the Big Six."
"Can 'The Prey' defend Imperial Capital TV's honor? Or will it fall like the rest under 'Hikaru no Go's feet?"
"Rumor has it: 'Hikaru no Go's spring goal is to bring down at least one flagship drama from the Top Three Titans. So… who's going to be the first to fall?"
"A thousand-year-old Go spirit meets a modern boy. Together, they chase the Hand of God across time—a romance and epic rolled into one."
"The Spring Season's Disruptor! 'Hikaru no Go' rips off the cloak labeled 'Flop' to reveal ripped muscles underneath, grinning as it strides toward a trembling 'The Prey', 'Endblade', 'Deadly Gambler', and 'Fireworks'."
Jing Yu stared at the reviews pouring in from media outlets and entertainment journals, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sometimes I think these critics are even more over-the-top than I am…"
Wearing his Sai costume, Jing Yu sat in the makeup room waiting for a touch-up, while thoughts swirled in his mind.
Interviews with media, press junkets at the station, and the growing number of Sai fans waiting outside the set daily…
Fame was great.
But fame also came with a lot of trouble.
"When the episode where Sai disappears finally airs… what will the fans of 'Hikaru no Go' feel?"
"On one hand, I'm the evil screenwriter who 'killed' Sai. On the other hand, I'm also the one playing him.
By the time Sai's arc hits its emotional peak, the character will be so beloved that—when I kill him off—Sai fans won't even know who to blame."
Jing Yu smiled faintly at the irony.
"Sai kills Sai."
That episode, though, wouldn't air until season two, at the earliest.
The makeup artist beside him was momentarily stunned by his smile.
"That's… the smile of an angel. So handsome..."
Just then, 'Hikaru no Go's producer, Cheng Lie, walked in holding a folder.
"By the way, Teacher Jing Yu—there's something from Qimu Sports Company. They're hosting a Go exchange event in Modo soon and inviting a lot of renowned Go professionals.
They'd like to invite you to attend. Interested?"
Jing Yu blinked.
"Invite me? For what? No thanks."
"Qimu Sports is the #1 sporting goods manufacturer in the Great Zhou," Cheng Lie explained. "They hold over 40% of the Go equipment market, and they're also the title sponsor for 'Hikaru no Go'.
So, yeah… they're kind of important."
"Okay, but what's that got to do with me?" Jing Yu asked, confused.
"Come on, 'Hikaru no Go' is airing now, and your character Sai is crazy popular.
For a lot of viewers, you're more recognizable than actual 9-dan pro players or even Go champions.
They just want to use your image for a bit of promo."
"Oh, and…" Cheng Lie hesitated, "…they're hoping you can show up in your Sai costume, if possible."
After two months of working together, Cheng Lie had a good grasp of Jing Yu's personality.
This guy was constantly juggling acting, screenwriting, songwriting, and even working on 'Hikaru no Go's insert songs, OPs, and EDs. He was stretched thin.
Only in the past few days had he finally had time to relax, play some games, and act like a proper couch potato.
So yeah—asking him to go to an event? Probably a big no.
And just as expected—
"So basically, you want me to show up as a mascot to hype up the event, right?
Can you help me decline?"
Cheng Lie sighed.
"That might be... hard."
He draped an arm around Jing Yu's shoulder.
"It's just two or three days.
We can shoot all of Sai's scenes in advance and adjust the schedule—it won't delay anything."
"Come on, Teacher Jing Yu… this is an assignment from Director Meng Yu himself.
Qimu's ad spend this quarter is huge, and the network can't afford to come off as ungrateful."
"Plus, the event's theme is about promoting traditional culture.
It'll be broadcast live on the Great Zhou's official media channel.
If you appear in costume, that'll boost 'Hikaru no Go's visibility and legitimacy."
At that, Jing Yu's gaze sharpened slightly.
The official media channel…
In the Great Zhou, the national broadcast system wasn't just made up of commercial TV stations.
There was also Da Zhou Central Television (DZCTV)—the "parent" of all media networks.
All other stations, technically speaking, were subordinate branches.
DZCTV didn't dabble much in dramas; their programming was mostly news, international affairs, and global coverage.
But for events focused on traditional culture, they'd occasionally broadcast on sub-channels, and maybe feature key highlights on their main channel.
Their viewership numbers weren't always high, but appearing on DZCTV meant one thing—prestige.
It was like back in Jing Yu's previous life:
Even if a show had stellar ratings on provincial networks, getting interviewed by CCTV was still a big deal.
This wasn't just about appeasing the sponsor.
Even Yunteng TV was eager to have Jing Yu attend—he would essentially be representing the network in front of the official media.